DENR-CAR bids, awards committee reconstituted

By Gayle Astudillo

BAGUIO CITY -- The regional bids and awards committee of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera was reconstituted last week for more effective implementation of projects.

Lawyer Crizaldy Barcelo, DENR – CAR BAC chairman said the function of the BAC in a “jury duty” and should not be sacrificed and must precede other miscellaneous functions.

In the DENR-CAR, the head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE) is regional director   Ralph C. Pablo.

The BAC is chaired by lawyer Crizaldy M. Barcelo, assistant regional director for management services with engineer. Benjamin A. Ventura as vice chairman. 

Members include lawyer Cleo Sabado-Andrada, Helen W. Garcia and  Charinne Hanako M. Abalos, also a lawyer.

The BAC secretariat is chaired by lawyer Mark Bias and technical working groups.

The TWG for infrastructure projects is headed by engineer Gwendelyn B. Humiwat while goods is under Carmencita R. Tagayona and consulting services is led by engineer Ma. Rowena G. Caccam.

Barcelo said all procurement of the national government is governed by Republic Act  9184.

The procurement of goods, infrastructure projects and consulting services reportedly starts with preparation of project procurement management plan (PPMP) by end users and consolidated into an annual procurement plan (APP) by the procuring entity and undergoes a series of procedure. 

Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act provides for modernization, standardization and regulation of the procurement activities of the government and for other purposes.

This law reportedly emphasizes transparency and competitiveness in procurement process and implementation of contracts. 

Competitive bidding is the participation of interested establishments, companies or entities.

The lowest bidder does not always get the project since quality is not sacrificed.

The BAC handles all procurement and concerns.

It is composed of at least five but not more than seven members, chaired by at least a third ranking permanent official and headed by the Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE).

To keep abreast of the developments and to improve capability of the BAC, the secretariat and the TWG, Government Procurement Policy Board chaired by the Dept. of Budget and Management conducts regular training programs.

The DENR-CAR has awarded 589 contracts for goods and services, one for consulting services, and six for infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2015. 

In comparison to FY 2016, there was minimal difference.  Under goods and services, 593 were awarded with eight for infrastructure.

In consulting services, there was an increase of seven with eight awarded. 

The increase was due to preparatory activities for the transformation of old cadastral surveys to the Philippine Reference Survey (PRS) 92. 

With compliance by the DENR – CAR of  RA 9184, the DENR is working towards being transparent and to instill honesty and minimize if not to eradicate corruption in its ranks.